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Head, Ricker Library of Architecture and Art - University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Submitted by Julia Pernicka on Wed, 07/16/2014 - 09:56

Head, Ricker Library of Architecture and Art

Open Rank Faculty University Library

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Position Available: The expected start date is as soon as possible after the closing date. This is a 100%, twelve-month, tenure-system appointment.

Responsibilities: Reporting to the University Librarian, the Head of Ricker Library of Architecture and Art will provide leadership for and supervision of library services to students, faculty, and other scholars using the Ricker. The Head of Ricker is a member of the University Library’s Arts and Humanities Division.

As Architecture and Art Librarian, the successful candidate will:

Provide leadership for the Ricker Library of Architecture and Art;

Lead and manage collection development and management in architecture, architectural history, art history, studio arts, design and related disciplines;

Liaise with the University Library Visual Resources Collection, School of Architecture, School of Art and Design, Krannert Art Museum, and other units in the College of Fine and Applied Arts and across campus;

Manage the provision of and contribute to effective, responsive reference service

Coordinate the Ricker Library web site management, digital projects, development and management of additional collections, specific library programs and operations, and participate in other projects and activities;

Work with Library Advancement to secure additional funding for the Art and Architecture Library;

Contribute to the national and international reputation of the University Library through professional research, service, and collaboration with appropriate colleagues and organizations

As Unit Head of the Ricker Library of Architecture and Art, the successful candidate will:

Oversee all administrative aspects of the unit;

Mentor, motivate, supervise, and train staff in the unit;

Direct the selection, training, evaluation, and deployment of support staff members and graduate assistants/hourly staff in Ricker Library;

Prepare regular and on-demand reports for the Ricker Library, including but not limited to strategic plans, annual goals, annual reports, and budget proposals and request;

Collaborate collegially and cooperatively with other personnel throughout the Library, including those in the Ricker Library, other unit heads, the Associate University Librarian for User Services, and the Associate University Librarian for Collections and Technical Services.

Environment: The University of Illinois Library at Urbana-Champaign is one of the preeminent research libraries in the world. With more than 13 million volumes and significant digital resources, it ranks second in size among academic research libraries in the United States and first among public university libraries in the world. As the intellectual heart of the campus, the Library is committed to maintaining the strongest possible collections and services and engaging in research and development activities in pursuit of the University’s mission of teaching, scholarship, and public service. The Library currently employs approximately 90 faculty and 300 academic professionals, staff, and graduate assistants. For more detailed information, please visit <http://www.library.illinois.edu/>. The Library consists of multiple departmental libraries located across campus, as well as an array of central public, technical, and administrative service units. The Library also encompasses a variety of virtual service points and “embedded librarian” programs.

The Ricker Library of Architecture and Art (http://www.library.illinois.edu/arx/) includes more than 120,000 monographs, 33,000 serials (some housed in the Library's main book stacks), 35,000 microforms, and a collection of videos and CD-ROMs. The holdings cover the fields of architectural practice, history and theory, global art history and theory from antiquity to contemporary, art and design, art education, and museum studies. Collection highlights include: an extensive holding of exhibition catalogs encompassing a wide range of periods and geographic locations; an architecture collection that includes landmark titles in architecture, history and theory of design, historic preservation, professional practice and management, structures, monographs on architects and building types, and a strong collection of information on current practicing architects; a collection of catalogues raisonnés of important artists, architects, and sculptors. Currently, one full-time librarian and two full-time staff report to the Head of Ricker Library.

Qualifications:

Required Qualifications:

ALA-accredited MLS degree or equivalent;

Advanced degree in Art History, Architecture, or related field;

3 years of relevant experience working in a research library or a related setting;

Demonstrated skills in managing programs and bringing projects to completion;

Evidence of research, publication, and service consonant with University standards for tenure and promotion at the level of Assistant, Associate or Full Professor

Preferred Qualifications:

Managerial and organizational skills required to oversee an extensive program of acquisitions, collection management, and public engagement activities;

Knowledge of at least one foreign language of importance to the field of art history;

Demonstrated understanding or familiarity of current theory and practice of art and architecture librarianship;

Knowledge of current trends in scholarship and teaching of art and architecture;

Clear understanding and vision for the use of new technologies (digitization and beyond) in the field art and architecture librarianship;

Experience of building and sustaining library or research collections in all formats;

Experience providing instruction or workshops in an academic library or similar research environment;

Demonstrated ability to work collegially and cooperatively with others in a team environment;

Experience in grant writing and development;

Evidence of bibliographical and scholarly accomplishment

Salary and Rank: Salary commensurate with credentials and experience. Librarians have faculty rank, and must demonstrate excellence in librarianship, research, and university/professional/community service in order to meet university standards for tenure and promotion. For more information, see <http://www.library.illinois.edu/committee/promo/pta.html>.

Terms of Appointment: Twelve-month appointment; 24 annual vacation days; 11 annual paid holidays; 12 annual sick-leave days (cumulative), plus an additional 13 sick-leave days (non-cumulative) available, if needed, each year; health insurance requiring a small co-payment is provided to employee (with the option to purchase coverage for spouse and dependents); required participation in State Universities Retirement System (SURS) (8% of annual salary is withheld and is refundable upon termination), with several options for participation in additional retirement plans; newly-hired employees are covered by the Medicare portion of Social Security and are subject to its deduction.

Campus and Community: The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a comprehensive and major public land-grant university (Doctoral/Research University-Extensive) that is ranked among the best in the world. Chartered in 1867, it provides undergraduate and graduate education in more than 150 fields of study, conducts theoretical and applied research, and provides public service to the state and the nation. It employs 3,000 faculty members who serve 31,000 undergraduates and 12,000 graduate and professional students; approximately 25% of faculty receives campus-wide recognition each year for excellence in teaching. More information about the campus is available at www.illinois.edu.

The University is located in the twin cities of Champaign and Urbana, which have a combined population of 100,000 and are situated about 140 miles south of Chicago, 120 miles west of Indianapolis, and 170 northeast of St. Louis. The University and its surrounding communities offer a cultural and recreational environment ideally suited to the work of a major research institution. For more information about the community, visit: <http://illinois.edu/about/community/community.html> or <http://www.ccchamber.org/>.

To Apply: To ensure full consideration, please complete your candidate profile at https://jobs.illinois.edu and upload a letter of interest, resume, and contact information including email addresses for three professional references. Applications not submitted through this website will not be considered. For questions, please call: 217-333-8169.

Deadline: In order to ensure full consideration, applications and nominations must be received by August 29, 2014. The review of applications will continue until the position is filled.

Illinois is an Affirmative Action /Equal Opportunity Employer and welcomes individuals with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and ideas who embrace and value diversity and inclusivity.